Advertising device



Nov. s, 1938. RYDBERG 2,135,914

ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1937 :5 FIG. 2 I'l I it!!! I4 L I I INVENTOR 5 1 WzllliM R j BY aim ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8 1938 UNlT STATES ATENT OFFICE Application August 12,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved advertising device and particularly to an advertising device in which certain elements or letters are adapted to move. It is intended primarily to provide positive means for imparting movement to signs or the element forming the complete or part of the complete advertising device or devices whereby attention is attracted thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide means for causing letters or elements to move in a given manner and having associated with the elements imparting the motion, means for illuminating the letters or elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an advertising medium in which at least certain elements or letters are adapted to move in a predetermined manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign of the type with characters on its advertising surface or surfaces which are moveable relative to the sign and operated so as to attract attention to the advertising device.

Another object of the invention is to provide advertising device, or sign, which can be manufactured and maintained in operating condition at a minimum cost.

With the foregoing and other objects in View the invention consists of the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated. In the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one embodiment of the invention but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall Within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

The advertising device hereinafter to be described is adapted to be used on moving vehicles, stationary signs, etc.

This invention is an improvement on an advertising device on which Frank Cargill recently filed an application Serial No. 153,029, dated July 10, 1937.

In the drawing which forms a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a front view of a letter having neon illuminating means attached.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a letter or element of a sign which is adapted to move.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the letter or element supporting means.

Figure 4 is a view of the end of the shaft and insulation therein.

Figure 5 is a view of bearings for supporting the letter moving shaft.

Figure 6 is a View of a complete sign with parts broken away.

In advertising devices in which elements are moved, there is a tendency for the moving elements to vibrate and wobble. These disadvan- 1937, Serial No. 158,717

tages have been overcome in my invention by securing lever 30 to the shaft at substantially the center of gravity of the shaft and the letter.

Referring to the drawing in detail, l0 indicates an advertising element which in the drawing is the letter I. The element I0 is operatively secured to hollow pipe member ll, through the medium of block l2 and pin l3. Block I2 is suitably secured to the element H], for example by bolts I l and nuts l5. An opening is provided in block l2 into which one end of shaft l0 extends. Secured to the letter, character, or element I0 is illuminating me'ans I6. The illuminating means is preferably of the neon type. The letter forms a housing ll of sufficient depth to shield or house the connection between the tube ends extending through the letter near the ends of such letter and the conductors l8. The con ductors l8 extend through apertures in the shaft ii. The apertures are properly bushed to give protection to the conductors l8.

The conductors extend along the inside of the shaft H and pass out through the shaft walls near the rear end of the shaft. Suitable insulation material l9 separates the conductors from each other and from the Walls of the shaft. The insulation i9 is so arranged that shifting thereof is prohibited. The rear end of the shaft is closed by block which block is secured to shaft l I by any suitable means such as pin 2|. The conductors are secured to block 20 by any desired means such as bolts 22, and nut 23.

When a series of letters, characters or elements are used the conductor 24 connects to the adjacent letter, character or element. Current for illuminating the lights I6 is furnished to conductors 25 for any suitable source of supply.

It is highly important that the letter, character or element does not wobble and the arrangement shown prevents this undesirable result. Mounted on support 25 are bearing members 26 and 21 which are suitably secured to the support 25. Secured around shaft I0 is member 28 which is clamped to the shaft by a set screw 29. Formed integrally with and extending from member 28 is handle-like lever 30. In the upper end of lever 39 is opening 3!. If a series of letters, characters or elements are used suitable means of connecting the levers together near their free ends is used. Motion is imparted to upper lever which transmits the movement to letter, character or elements l0.

If desired the moving letters, etc., may be mounted in front of a suitable background. It is highly desirable that the unit shown in Figure 1 be completely enclosed in a suitable housing.

Modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of my invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

In the specification and claims when letter is used, it is intended to mean letter, character or element.

Shaft I I may be and preferably is of Bakelite but it is to be understood shaft ll may be of any suitable material.

Shown in Figure 6 is one form the sign may take. An enclosing member 35 is provided with a suitable face in front of which is adapted'to move letter If]. The shafts ll extend through the face and support the letters adjacent the face of the enclosing member. Rods or bars 32 connect the ends of members 30 together and a rod 33 is connected to a suitable power transmitter 34 and to the rods 32.

What I claim is:

1. A sign including rockable letters, a hollow shaft secured to substantially the mid-portion of each letter to be rocked, luminescent tubes carried by the letters and having definite character form, electrical conductors extending through the hollow shaft and connected to the luminescent tube, each letter formed of sufiicient depth to form a housing for enclosing the connection of the conductors and the tubes, bearing members for supporting the shaft, a member attached to the shaft and having an arm extending therefrom substantially parallel to the letter, and the arm connected to a power-imparting mechanism.

2. A sign comprising a rockable shaft, a letter carried by the shaft, a luminescent tube fixed on the letter and having definite character form, an electrical circuit connected with the tube to illuminate the same, the letter formed to cover the connection between the electrical circuit and the tubes, bearings supporting the shaft, a member encircling the shaft and secured thereto, an arm extending from the encircling member in a plane substantially parallel to the letter, and the arm connected to a power mechanism.

3. In a sign, letters pivoted at substantially the mid-section and adapted to move about the pivot a limited extent so that said letters can be read while they move sufiiciently to attract attention, a hollow shaft connected to each letter, a neon light carried by the letter, a member attached to the shaft and having an arm-like member extending therefrom in a plane substantially parallel to the letters, power mechanism connected to the arm and a line circuit extending substantially through the shaft and connected to the light.

4. A sign of the class described comprising a letter mounted for rocking movement, a hollow shaft, bearing for supporting the shaft, a block for closing one of the shafts by extending into the shaft, another block for closing the other end of the shaft by extending over the outside end of the shaft, said last-mentioned block secured to the letter, a member attached to the shaft and having an arm-like member extending outwardly therefrom, and power mechanism connected to the arm-like member.

5. A sign of the class described, a hollow shaft, electrical conductors extending along the interior of the shaft, 2. letter carried by the shaft, luminescent tube carried by the letter and having definite character form, the electrical conductors connected to the tube, the letter formed of a depth to shield the connection between the conductors and the tube, a member connected to the shaft and having an arm extending outwardly therefrom and in a plane substantially parallel to the letter, and power mechanism connected to the arm.

6. In a sign of the class described, a shaft,

bearings supporting the shaft, a letter supported by the shaft at substantially its mid-section and adapted to be rocked through a limited arc, luminescent tubes formed to conform to the shape of the letter, said tubes ends passing through the letters near the end thereof, an electrical circuit connected to the tube ends, a member connected tothe shaft and having an armlike member extending therefrom, and power mechanism connected to the arm-like member.

'7. In a sign, a plurality of shafts for supporting letters, a plurality of letters each pivoted at substantially the middle to a shaft and adapted to be moved about said pivot a limited extent so that the ends of the letters will move through an arc of substantially 90 degrees, bearings for supporting each shaft and means for imparting motion through the medium of the shaft to the letters; said motion imparting means secured to each shaft between the bearings.

8. In a sign, a plurality of shafts, a plurality of characters each character supported by a shaft at substantially the middle thereof and adapted to be moved so that the ends of the characters will move through an arc of less than 180 degrees, bearings for supporting each shaft, a lever connected to each of the shafts at substantially the center of gravity of the shaft and the character, and means for imparting motion to said lever which is transmitted through the medium of the shafts to the characters.

9. In a sign, a shaft, a letter supported by the shaft and adapted to move through a limited arc of less than 180 degrees, spaced apart bearings supporting the shaft, means attached to the shaft between the bearings for imparting motion to said shaft, illuminating means carried by the letter, and electrical conductors extending through the shaft for supplying electrical energy to the illuminating means.

10. In a sign, a shaft, 2. letter supported by the shaft at about the middle of the letter and adapted to be moved through an arc of less than 180 degrees, neon illuminating means carried by the letter, bearing support for shaft, means attached to the shaft at substantially the center of gravity of the letter and the shaft for imparting motion to the shaft, the free end of said motion imparting means substantially parallel with the letter, and electrical conductors in said shaft and connected to the illuminating means carried by the letter.

11. In a sign, a fiber shaft, a letter supported by the fiber shaft at substantially the middle of the letter, bearings for supporting the shaft, lever means connected to the shaft for imparting motion to the shaft, the upper end of said lever being substantially fiat and lying in a plane substantially parallel with the letter illuminating means mounted on the letter, and means passing through the shaft for supplying electrical energy to the illuminating means.

12. In a sign, a plurality of shafts, a character supported by each shaft, bearings supporting each of the shafts in substantially the plane of the middle of the characters, means operatively connected to each shaft at substantially the center of gravity of the shaft and the character, for imparting rocking motion through the shaft to each character, whereby the character is rocked with a minimum of vibration while mov- WILLIAM RYDBERG. 

